How do you go about making changes in the rules

I live in Florida and with all the hurricanes we have been shellacked with special assessments. It seems like every month. Is there any way to change the rules so that special assessments have to be voted on by the members. Right now our board is totally out of control. Thank you, Nick

Nick, usually special assessments are specified in the CC&Rs. Read your's; following is mine.

6. Special Assessments. In addition to the annual Common Expense assessments authorized in this Article, the Association, with the approval of two-thirds (2/3) of a quorum of Association votes cast by Members voting in person or by proxy at a meeting duly called for this purpose, may levy, in any fiscal year, a special assessment applicable to that year only, for the purpose of defraying in whole or in part the cost of any construction, reconstruction, repair or replacement of a capital improvement upon any portion of real property for which the Association has repair and/or reconstruction obligations, including fixtures and personal property related thereto, or for repair or reconstruction of any damaged or destroyed Improvements located on said real property, or for the funding of any operating deficit incurred by the Association. Any such special assessment shall be set against each Unit in accordance with the Allocated Interests set forth in this Declaration. A meeting of the Members called for the purpose of considering the establishment of a special assessment shall be held in conformance with Section 7 of this Article IV.

Roger, What happens if the members vote not to have the assessment or quorum can't be reached? What if the expense is immediate and necessary like a tripled insurance premium in Florida? Just curious what a board would do then? Thanks.

Our association has sufficient reserve funds and would never need a special assessment. For those HOAs that would require a special assessment they need enough reserve funds to bridge until another special meeting is called to pass the special assessment. In the notice of that special meeting they better make sure the owners thoroughly understand what happens if the special assessment is not passed.

"Grease the skids", make it as easy as possible for them to make payments on the special assessment. The Board may have the authority to borrow funds; and may find funding source after approval of the special assessment.